After a break, Letrozole, continued...

@Romla I have all those things - so frustrating isn’t it!!  I’m taking so many vitamins to combat symptoms/side effects.  Would of been tough to deal with with a baby!!

Omg don’t try it NOT suitable if on Tamoxifen BLOCKS it.

I find cutting out wheat, sugar, and dairy and reducing coffee to one a day is a great help in reducing my hot flushes. Needless to say, my hot flushes are rarely reduced as chocolate and coffee are mainlined.

Please do not try remifemin without checking with your onc/gp.The Herbs app may be worth a look.

@"Kiwi Angel" I went into sudden onset menopause within 6 months of my daughter’s birth at age 40.It was horrific - couldn’t add up a row of numbers , couldn’t follow a recipe , hot flushes causing insomnia ,couldn’t drive a car etc - the mental impacts were shocking esp trying to continue my career and raise a young child.At least these days menopause is discussed openly in the community and we have this forum to share . It does ease and you do get “used” to it but takes a while.In the meantime you do what you can to survive - unfortunately I chose HRT which is probably why I had breast cancer.

@kmakm glad doggy is home - not so good about the runs and anal seepage!!

i remember in my naivety many years ago saying I couldn’t wait for menopause so I wouldn’t have to worry about periods anymore - what I wouldn’t give to have that inconvenience back!!

@"Kiwi Angel" My dog is home. No bowel blockage thank goodness, so it looks like it was doggie gastro. He has still got the runs and anal seepage so he has to be followed round the house. It's exhausting. The things you do for love eh?!

Stress is a considerable trigger for me when it comes to hot flushes. All my symptoms ebb and flow. Like you sometimes I think everything is improving but then all the side effects ramp up again. I can't identify a pattern. It's weird. And depleting. Cancer/menopause/ageing ain't for sissies, that's for sure.

@kmakm I asked my oncologist this. She said it will definately be worse as I had been slammed into menopause by chemo and tamoxifen and didn’t have the gradual progression like most women. When I asked her if the symptoms would ease over time her response was “possibly” which didn’t fill me with much hope. Sometimes I feel like my hot flushes are easing off and then they ramp up again. Stress is a minor trigger for me - when I feel stressed or think about something stressful I get a hot flush  :(.  How is your doggy going Kate???

Question: having been shoved into menopause by chemo and being kept there by Letrozole and/or age, I'm having horrible hot flushes multiple times a day and night. Are these a side effect of menopause, and will improve and possibly stop after a time? Or are they a side effect of the AI that I will continue to have for as long as I take it?

That’s great @arpie! A years Grace will be a nice break from the constant appointments. I suppose for me I just get a little nervous about side effects as I feel I’ve had enough already ha ha. I have rads, surgeon and medical oncology follow ups in the next month. Then a bit of a break.  I’ll have to get referrals to Canberra. Definitely going public 😊 

take care xx